The Parish Church of St. Michael's & All Angels,
Arthuret, Diocese of Carlisle
The church is located about half a mile south of Longtown and was built in 1609 on the order of King James I. The derivation of the name Arthuret is uncertain but may be a corruption of "Arthur's Head", the name given to the land on which the church is built. The area is much associated with King Arthur and his mentor Merlin. King Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon and is thought to have defied the invading Anglo Saxons from Europe. Dr. Norma Goodrich, an authority on King Arthur, has suggested that Arthur's last battle was fought at Gilsland , a few miles east of Longtown, and has named Arthuret as the last resting place of this legendary British monarch.
The Blaylock family has a plot of three graves towards the right hand side of the rear of the churchyard, close to the path leading to St. Michael's Well.
Headstone of John Blaylock (1)
Enlarged Inscription of Headstone
The inscription reads "In Memory of John Blaylock Clockmaker in Longtown who died June the 27 - 1803 aged 67 Years
Hannah his wife died June 20 1814 Aged 70 Years".
Headstone of the family of John Blaylock (2)
The inscription is difficult to read because of erosion but commences "In Memory of John Blaylock Clock & Watchmaker who died at Carlisle March ? 1821 aged 46 Years Also of Dinah his Daughter who died May the 5th 1818" The inscription then becomes almost illegible but there is mention of his wife Ann who died Feb 3rd 1834 and another daughter with the name Dinah.
Headstone of the family of William Blaylock (1)
The Inscription is again difficult to read but I could make out the following:- "In Memory of Ann wife of William Blaylock Watchmaker Carlisle who died 31st March 1818 aged 39. Robert their Son died 22nd Nov 1809 aged 13 months Hannah their Daughter died 29th March 1813 aged 7 Years Hannah their Daughter died 21st January 1821, aged 8. Ann their Daughter died March 6th 1820 aged 10 Years Also the above named William Blaylock who died January the 11th 1832 aged 51 Years"
The Headstones reveal the high mortality rate of children of this period despite the family being quite prosperous and certainly well nourished. Also revealed is the repetitive use of the same Christian name for children who were born following the death of a previous child.
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Page last updated 20 May 2003